India celeberates it’s 61st Independence Day today… wishing all a Truly Great Independence Day
Yet could not help wondering how we Indians create Icons….. there are so many unheralded Indians who are quietly doing their work to lift our Poor…. living away in the Interiors with Villagers and Tribals for years, away from Urban Life
It was therefore with great warmth when I read, in todays edition of the Times of India, about the Ramon Magsaysay Award Winners for Community Leadership, Prakash and Mandakini Amte.
What is truly heartwarming is that this doctor couple has now spend nearly 35 years with the Madia Gond Tribe around Hemalkasia Village in Maharashtra’s underprivileged Gadchiroli district
Says Mandakini Amte, ” India still lacks the real passion for social work”
Their children studied with the tribals…the Village had no electricity and no phones… after moving away for higher education, the children have joined their parents in their work
We salute all of you
I strongly echo the strong words of Mrs Isaac,the Principal of Cathedral School at Speech Day where Honours Students were awarded their Certificates and Prizes… she strongly urged students to disregard and ignore what was trivial and farcical and that which had no depth… strongly against the ease and tendency of all of us creating “Celebrity” Icons.. especially of Film Stars
Just the other night my associate and me were at a upscale Chinese Eatery at Bandra,Mumbai having a quiet dinner after an Important Meeting which ended very late at night…. In walked a hot young film star and his star parents… all part of one of India’s Big “Filmy” Family …. they were surely making their presence felt…. This new kid on the block is already a super star earning in crores even though his first Film was a flop… his second film releases today !… nothing against him though ! he’s confident and has got that “ada”…probably in his genes …just that we tend to make him an icon too soon….. I asked my Twelve year Old Daughter early next morning at 6 am, when I was sweet talked by her into dropping seven of her Team for Football practise, whether she would have liked me to get the autograph of this young new Film star… “Whatever for !? ” she replied.. Atta Girl !